Moistening apparatus



- Dec. 2, 1941. l

A. MARCHEV MOISTENING APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1 940 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 9, 1940 A. MARCHEV 'MOISTENING APPARATUS :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 n (for/1 9;:

A.'MARCHEV 2,264,578.

MOISTENING APPARATUS Dec. 2, 194-1.

Filed March 9, 1940 .3 Sheets- Sheet 3 Patent ed Dec. 2, 1941 MOISTENING APPARATUS Alfred Marchev, La Grange, 11L, assimr to Ditto,

Incorporated, Chica West Virginia go, 111., a corporation of Application March 9, 1940, Serial a). 323,185

Claims.

This invention relates to moistening apparatus designed particularly for use in connection with duplicating machines of the liquid process type in which a master sheet bearing subject matter written or otherwise produced in reverse by the use or copy ink is carried into impression relationship with copy sheets one at a time, each of I such copy sheets beingprovided in turn with a film of solvent on its face so as to be brought into engagement with the ink of the master sheet for producing a positive copy-of the subject matter on the copy sheet. It is the object of this invention to provide in a moistening apparatus of this type a new and improved form and arrangement of parts by which improved results may be attained by the use of a simple construction which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

The construction covered by this present application is shown and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 323,164, filed March 9, 1940, but the moistening mechanism is not claimed by said co-pending application.

In the arrangement illustrated herein, two forwarding rollers are provided for advancing a copy sheet to the duplicating apparatus, one of such rollers having an auxiliary roller rotatably mounted in contact therewith, means being providedfor spraying a supply of solvent upon such auxiliary roller'in such relation that the solvent must pass between the auxiliary roller and the forwarding roller before it comes into contact with the copy sheet. The arrangement is such that a pool of liquid is gathered between the forwarding roller and the auxiliary roller so as to insure a proper supply of the solvent to the face of the forwarding roller, the thickness of the film being controlled by the pressure of the auxiliary roller against the forwarding roller. In the improved arrangement shown, the solvent is sprayed directly toward the line of contact of the auxiliary roller with the forwarding roller so that the spray is directed toward the adjacent faces of both rollers, that is to say, toward the pool of the liquid built up between the rollers, the rollers is provided also for feeding the solvent to the spray device by means of a pump which is operated in timed relation to the successive movements of the copy. sheets into impression relationship with the master sheet, with .the result that the supply of solvent above the rollers is.

kept sufliciently uniform to insure that a substantially even film of the solvent shall be applied upon the faces of the several copy sheets. This result 1s attained even though the forwarding roller 1s driven at high. speed for giving the copy sheet a quick-motion initial movement toward the drum or other master sheet carrier.

In the preferred construction as shown, no means is provided for driving the forwarding rollers except for a very short period at the start of the movement of the copy sheet between the rollers, the subsequent movement of the copy sheet being effected by the pull of the drum and the cooperating impression roller. In the movement of the copy sheet through the medium of the drum and impression roller the forwarding rollers are rotated by contact with the copy sheet. It is clear accordingly that in this improved arrangement the rotation of the forwarding rollers ceases immediately upon the passage of a copysheet out of the bite of the rollers. In the arbeing preferably of equal size and at the same level so as to enable them to support a substantial amount of the solvent between'them.

For attaining the desired results, the auxiliary roller is mounted-upon pivotally mounted arms which are pressed by coiled springs in the direction for moving the auxiliary roller into contact with the forwarding roller was to insure that the auxiliary roller will at all times have the desired bearing on the forwarding roller. Means rangement illustrated, in which the upper forwarding roller is employed for applying the solvent to the top face of a copy sheet, there is no danger that the lower roller shall have a film of solvent applied to its face, since such lower roller is never driven under normal circumstances except when there is a copy sheet present between the forwarding rollers. In this type of machine, this feature is of considerable importance, since the application of a film of solvent to the lower roller of this mechanism would be highly objectionable, as will be readily understood.

It is another object of this invention to improve moistening apparatus of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means bywhich the several objects have been attained are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-' r Fig. l is a side view of the improved machine as seen from the right in Fig. 2 but with the side closureplate and the crank handle removed;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the improved machine with parts broken away for clearness of illustration;

,Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially at the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view similar to a portion of Fig. 3'but upon a considerably enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially at the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig; 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially'lat the line 8-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicated b the same reference characters, I! and l l indicate side plates forming the principal portions of the framework of the machine, each of the side plates being provided with a flange [2 about its periphery, as is best shown in Fig. 1. As is best shown in Fig. 3, the side plates Ill and II are connected rigidly together by means of cross bars [3 and i4 and by a frame plate l8. Between the side plates Ill and II, a drum I1 is rotatably mounted by means of machine screws 18, such drum comprising a cylindrical wall portion i3 and end plates 20, the cylindrical wall portion I9 being provided with inwardly directed ribs ll extending strengthening the structure. At one side, the drum is provided with an outwardly open groove 22 within which a master sheet 23 is insertable, the master sheet being held in position by means comprising fingers 24 movably mounted upon a rock shaft 25 rotatably mounted between the end plates 20 of the drum. In the arrangement shown, the drum is rotated by means of a crank 26 operatively connected with the drum by suitable means such as those shown and described in the above mentioned co-pending application. At the sides of the machine, side closure plates 21 are provided.

At the rear end of the machine, frame bars 28 are provided extending rearwardly for supporting a table 29 thereon, such table being pivotally mounted at its rear edge portion by means of pins or bolts 30. Side margin bars 3! of any suitable type provided with pressure pads 32 are adjustable transversely with respect to the table 29, being held adjustably in position by suitable mechanism comprising clamping screws 33. For limiting the upward movement of the table 29 and a pile of copy sheets 34 thereon, a feed roller 35 is provided rotatably mounted in position between the side plates l0 and II by means of a transverse shaft 36. thereon are caused to press upwardly against the feed roller 35 by means of coiled springs 31 connected at their front ends to the cross bar ii of the machine and. at their rear ends with arms 38 extending downwardly from the table immediately below the pivot pins 30.

Below the drum II, a platen roller 39 is rotatably mounted in position in impression relationship to the drum, such platen roller being mounted by means of a shaft 40 between supporting arms 4| which are pivotally mounted on the side plates ill and II respectively by means of machine screws 42. Adjustable means for holding the supporting arms 4| in adjusted position with longitudinally of the drum for The table and the copy sheetsrespect to the drum is provided comprising set screws 43 carried by the arms and bearing at their lower ends against cams 44 carried by a rock shaft 45 provided at its outer end with a head 46, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The arrangement is such that when a copy sheet is fed from the left in Fig. 3 into the bite of the drum and the impression roller 39, such sheet is moved forwardly in impression relationship to the mas ter sheet 23 and is discharged in due time into a receiving tray 41.

A short distance back of the platen roller 39, two forwarding rollers 48 and 49 are mounted in cooperative relation to each other, the roller 48 being rotatably mounted upon a fixed axis by means of a shaft 30 and the roller 49 being rotatably mounted upon a movable axis by means of a shaft ll carried by arms 52 pivotally mounted upon pins ll carried by the side plates of the machine, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. At their rear ends,'the arms 62 are provided with coiled springs 54 arranged for pulling downwardly on the arms at the rear for pressing the forwarding roller 40 yieldingly toward me cooperating forwardin roller 44.

Immediately behind the forwarding roller 48. an auxiliary roller 55 is provided mounted by means of a shaft 58 upon the lower ends of arms 51 pivotally mounted by means of pins 53 upon the side frames l0 and H, the upper ends of the arms 5'! having coiled springs 59 connected therewith for pressing the roller 56 yieldingly against the forwarding roller 48. In the construction illustrated, the rollers 48 and 55 are of the same size and are mounted at the same level.

For driving the feed roller 35 and the forwarding rollers 48 and 49 in timed relation to the rotation of the drum H, a pivotally mounted operating arm 60 is provided. together with connections between such arm and the shafts 35 and 50 by which the feed roller 35 and the upper forwarding roller 48 are mounted. The operating arm 60 is pivotally mounted in position by means of a pin 5| held in position by means of a removable frame plate 62, as is clearly shown in Fig. l. The arm 60 is actuated by means of a shaft 63 which is driven in timed relation to the rotation of the drum H, the arrangement being such that the arm 60 is given a stroke in one direction and a comparatively much more rapid return stroke in the opposite direction upon each complete revolution of the drum H. A spring 64 is provided connected at its rear end with the arm 60 and at its front end with the cross bar H for effecting the quick-motion stroke of said arm. Inasmuch as the means for operating the feed roller and the forwarding rollers form in and of themselves no part of the present invention, the detailed construction is not illustrated, such construction being preferably the same as that shown and described in my said co-pendingapplication above referred to.

The connections between the arm and the shafts 38 and 50 are the same as the corresponding parts in said co-pending application. These parts comprise segmental tooth sections and 66 meshing with pinions 81 and 61a respectively, adapted through suitable one-way clutch devices 61b to drive the rollers intermittently in the direction for feeding a sheet forwardly from the pile 34 for delivery into the bite of the drum l1 and its cooperating impression roller 33. Inasmuch as the construction is the same as that described and claimed by my co-pending application, it is believed to be unnecessary to describe the same further herein. It will be understood that the one-way clutch driving devices 61b may be of any approved construction by which the pinions 61 and 61a are adapted to drive in countercloclrwise direction in Fig. l, leaving the rollers 35 and 48 free to rotate in said counterclockwise direction independently of the application of power to said pinions.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, the shaft 50 is supported by a bearing 50a of any suitable type. As is shown in Fig. 6, the shaft 36 is supported by a short shaft 36a mounted in bearings 36b in accordance with the showing of said prior application.

In operation, when the drum i1 is given a rotary movement through the medium of the crank mounted between the lever 16 and a lug 82 on the 16 upwardly 26, in due time the arm 60 swings upwardly for driving the feed roller 35 in the direction for carrying .the top sheet of the pile into the bite of the forwarding rollers 48 and 48. Shortly after the end of this upward stroke of the arm 60, the spring 64 is permitted to swing the arm 68 in a quick-motion stroke downwardly for driving the roller 48 in counterclockwise direction in Fig. 3 for giving the gripped copy S eet a quickmotion forward movement toward the right in Fig. 3 into the bite of the drum l1 and its co- The means for applying a film of solvent upon the upper forwarding roller 48 comprises a transversely extending pipe 68 having a series of openings 68 in its bottom wall in spaced relation therealong so disposed as to spray solvent or other liquid therefrom directly toward the line of contact of the rollers 48 and 55 (see Fig. 4). As will be readily understood, at the start of a period of operation, the liquid being sprayedfrom the pipe 68 is brought into contact with the adjacent portions of the faces of both rollers 48 and 55, the liquid being adapted to flow along the rollers to the extent necessary for equalization of the level of the liquid. By reason of the roll- .ers 48 and 55 being mounted at the same level and being of the same size, they are enabled to supporta substantial supply of solvent in the form of a pool between the rollers, giving out the solvent only in the form of a thin film which side plate It for moving the lever under the control of the cam 88.

In the preferred arrangement, the rollers and 89 are formed of rubber which is somewhat yielding under pressure; the forwarding roller 48 is also made of rubber but somewhat harder and less yieldinsiflthe roller 4813 made of sponge rubber with the pores closed at the face of the roller.

.The construction is not to be limited however specifically to this arrangement, since there can be considerable variation without rendering the structure inoperative. I a 7 By the use of the improved construction as illustrated and as above described, the application of a thin film of solvent upon the effective portion of the forwarding roller 48 is made to correspond fully and completely to the movement of a sheet forwardly between the forwarding rollers under normal conditions. If the machine should be operated without a supply of copy sheets upon the table 29, the sheet moving rollers 35 and '48 would be rotated for a very short period during each revolution of the drum, but no such operation of the machine is contemplated or likely in practice. Upon each actuation of the feed roller 35 by power, a sheet is moved forwardly into the bite of the forwarding rollers 48 and 49, and upon each actuation of the forwarding roller 48 by power the then gripped copy sheet is moved forwardly to the drum. The ap-' plication of the solvent is thus kept fully under control, and a thin film of the solvent is applied only when and where it is needed and the danger of feeding anexcessive amount of solvent at any time is effectively eliminated.

While the machine as illustrated shows the application of solvent to the upper one of the forwarding rollers, 48, it will be appreciated that the is gauged by the rollers and spread evenly upon the bottom face portion of the roller 48 for application to a copy sheet passing between the forwarding rollers 48 and 49. Since the rollers 48 and 49 are driven only through the medium of the arm 68 at the time when the leading edge of a copy sheet is in the bite of the rollers and since they are driven after their initial motion only v by the pull of a copy sheet, it is clear that the rollers are not driven at any time in any way except when a copy sheet is in position between the rollers.

The means for supplying solvent to the pipe 68 for delivery to the rollers 48 and comprises a feed pipe 10 connecting the pipe 68 with a pump ll adapted to take solvent or other liquid from a receptacle 72 within which the pump is mounted, the feed pipe 10 as shown being provided with a check valve 13 therein. The pump H is operated by a lever 14 pivotally mounted at 15 upon the side frame in of the machine. A cooperating lever I6 also pivotally mounted at I5 is provided with a lug 11 adapted to engage the bottom face of the lever '54 so that upon a downward stroke of the lever 15 the lever 14 ismoved rotatably mounted in pressure relationship with A said one roller at substantially the same level upwardly against the action of a spring 18 within upon the rollers 48 and 55. A coiled spring 8| is parts may be otherwise arranged, it being unnecessary to limit the feed of the solvent to the upper roller as distinguished from a changed construction involving the application of the solvent to the lower roller.

It is to be understood also that applicant does not otherwise limit his invention to the form and arrangement of parts as shown, except so far as the claims may be so limited, it being understood that changes might well be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a duplicating machine, copy sheet moistening means for applying solvent to the sur-'- faces of copy sheets which are thereupon brought into impression relationship with a master sheet bearing subject matter written or otherwise produced'in reverse thereon by means of a copy ink soluble in said solvent, said means comprising in combination two forwarding rollers rotatably mounted inposition one above-the other in cooperative relation for moving a sheet forwardly between them; a third roller of substantially the same size as that of said first-named two rollers therewith, and means forintermittently depositing a supply of, liquid in the trough formed by said two last mentioned rollersthereby causing the liquid to collect into a pool above the meeting line between said third roller and said one roller so as to pass between said rollers in the form of a thin film under the control of the pressure between the rollers for transfer from said one roller to a sheet passing between the forwarding rollers.

faces of copy sheets which are thereupon brought into impression relationship with a master sheet bearing subject matter written or otherwise produced in reverse thereon by means of a copy ink soluble in said solvent, said means comprising combination two rollers rotatably mounted in position one above the other in cooperative relation for moving a sheet forwardly between them, one of said rollers being movable vertically with respect to the other, means serving normally to press said rollers together, a member extending across adjacent to said rollers and movable into and out of engagement with one of said rollers adapted by cooperation with the downwardly moving face portion of said one roller to support a small supply of liquid against said downwardly moving face of said roller, means separate from said rollerand cross member for delivering a supply of liquid into the bight between said cross member and said one roller in the form of a pool above the line of contact of said roller with said cross member for application in the form of a film to said one roller for transfer to a sheet passing between said forwarding rollers, and means pressing said cross member and said one roller together to thereby cause the liquid to be spread into a thin even film on said one roller, and the parts being arranged for feeding the'liquid downwardly on said one roller at such a rate as tocontrol the accumulation of the liquid.

3. In a duplicating machine, copy sheet moistening means for applying solvent to the surfaces of copy sheets which are thereupon brought into impression" relationship with a master sheet bearing subject matter written or otherwise produced in reverse thereon by means of a copy ink soluble in said solvent, said means comprising in combination two rollers rotatably mounted in position one above the other in cooperative relation for moving a sheet forwardly between them, the lower one of said rollers being movable vertically toward and from the upper roller, means serving normally to press said lower roller against said upper roller, a third roller rotatably mounted on an axis movable toward and from said upper roller so as to rotate in engagement with the rear side face of said upper roller, means separate from said, rollers for delivering a supply of liquid into the bight between said third roller and said upper roller in the form of a pool above the line of contact of said rollers for application in the form of a film to said upper roller for transfer to a sheet passing between said forwarding rollers, and means for causing said third roller to press firmly against said upper roller and thereby cause the liquid to be spread into athin even film on said upper roller, and the parts being arranged for feeding the liquid downwardly on said one roller at such a rate as to control the accumulation of the liquid.

4. In a duplicating machine, copy sheet moistening means for applying solvent to the surfaces of copy sheets which are thereupon brought into impression relationship with a master sheet bearing subject matter written or otherwise produced in reverse thereon by means of a copy ink soluble in said solvent, said means comprising in combination two rollers rotatably mounted in position one above the other in cooperative relawith the downwardly moving side face portion of one of said first-named two rollers at substantially the same level therewith, a feed pipe extending across above said third roller and said one forwarding roller and having outlet means positioned for directing liquid fed to the pipe into contact with said third roller and said one forwarding roller, and means for delivering liquid under pressure to said feed pipe for application to said third roller and to said one for- .warding roller in the form of a pool above the tening means for applying solvent to the surtion for moving a sheet forwardly between them,

a third roller rotatably mounted in engagement faces of copy sheets which are thereupon brought into impression relationship with a master sheet bearing subject matter written or otherwise produced in reverse thereon by means of a copy ink soluble in said solvent, said means comprising in combination two rollers rotatably mounted in position in cooperative relation for moving a sheet forwardly between them, a third roller rotatably mounted in engagement with the downwardly moving side face portion of one of-said first named two rollers in position to form a horizontally extending trough capable of supporting a pool of liquid above the meeting line of the third roller with said one roller, means above therollers for delivering a supply of liquid into said trough to form a pool of liquid therein above the line of contact of said two last mentioned rollers for application, in the form of a film, by said one roller to a sheet passing between the forwarding rollers, and means for causing said third roller and said one roller to press firmly together and thereby cause the liquid to be spread into a thin even film on said one roller, whereby said third roller, and said one roller are arranged for feeding the liquid downwardly between them at such rate as to control the accumulation of the liquid in said trough and to supply adequate moisture to said sheet.

6. A duplicating apparatus comprising a drum having a master thereon, means for rotating said drum, means for pressing a copy sheet into impression relationship with the drum as the drum rotates so as to cause the copy sheet to move with the drum, two forwarding rollers rotatably mounted in cooperative relation to the drum for moving a sheet forwardly between them into the grip of said drum and its cooperating impression means, a third roller rotatably mounted in pressure engagement with the downwardly moving side face of that one of said forwarding rollers that rotates in the same direction as the drum in position to form therewith a horizontally extending trough for supporting a pool of liquid above the meeting line of the third roller with said one roller, liquid supplg means separate from said rollers operable to deposit a supply of liquid into said trough and thereby form a pool of liquid above the line of contact of said third roller and the forwarding roller with which it engages, said third roller acting by its pressure engagement with the forwarding roller to control the feed .of liquid downwardly between them from said pool whereby the liquid delivered by said supply means into said trough is delivered by said last named forwarding roller in a thin film to a copyv sheet being advanced by the forwarding rollers.

ALFRED MARCHEV. 

